The original Deus Ex was a ground breaking cyberpunk-themed Espionage game that redefined the concept of both the First-Person Shooter and Role-Playing Game genre. Today it’s best remembered for its unique story, innovative gameplay and for predicting most major events that took place in the 2000 decade (like the 9/11 attack).
For those who missed out on the original game, here is a quick recap.
Set in the year 2052; the world has been plagued into chaos due to the rise of global terrorism, an economic depression and a deadly virus. Players take on the role of J.C Denton, an Agent of UNATCO (United Nations Anti-Terrorism Coalition) who has undergone nano-technological augmentation. Yet on his first night, he uncovers a sinister conspiracy being plotted by a secret organization to take over the world. However since this group is led by a business tycoon with influence in several government organizations, Agent Denton must work alone and only trust a few selected friends.
It’s story was based on popular conspiracy theories regarding shadow organizations like Majestic-12 and The Illuminati along with common tropes such as Black Helicopters, anti-UN sentiments, Area 51 or the Men In Black. It’s obvious that great works of science fiction like Blade Runner, The Matrix and The X-Files played a major role in crafting one unforgettable experiences.
Deus Ex story is one of the most memorable but its graphics have not survived the test of time. Having been released in mid-2000, it was built using the Unreal Engine 1 just as it was about to become dated by the Unreal Engine 2. Yet given its popularity and the influence it had on gaming, it was only a matter of time before someone decided to give it a visual upgrade.
Enter Caustic Creative and its mod Deus Ex: Revision, a Square Enix approved fan project bringing visual upgrades and a redesign of the game.
Not only are the upgraded graphics much crisper and visually appealing, but they also add a new level of detail to the environment. A lot of attention has been given to enhance the feeling that you’re in a dystopian future with no promise of hope or salvation.
Adding to the new experience is that most of the levels have also been redesign and expanded. One’s memory of the original game will now be useless as pathways and secrets have been moved around to give players a brand new gaming experience.
This is not the same Deus Ex that gamers played back in 2000 — this is a new experience that will remind a gamer why this game is an icon. An old school gamer should take time to explore this redesigned future to truly appreciate what has been achieved.
Deus Ex: Revision is a testament to how the legacy of a video game can survive for so long and that there is always a community of loyal fans whiling to take the time to visually enhance it for a new audience. The game is available on Steam and it requires Deus Ex: Game of the Year Edition.
Final Score: 5/5
